Habitation Door Security

We are considering buying an Autosleeper Winchcombe and would like to know if anyone has fitted any extra external lock to the habitation door as this would require drilling and fitting through the shower wall - which we are concerned about.
We would welcome any comments.

Why do you need to fit an extra lock? If it's a new model, the locks are pretty good, but they wouldn't stop anybody with a crowbar getting in, nor would an extra lock.
And, as fitting it would compromise your shower wall, not to mention having sharp steel fixings in somewhere where you don't wear clothes, I would think seriously if you need any added lock security.  
Far better to get a good alarm if you are afraid of break ins. Vanbitz.com  have a really good range of alarms and trackers and are based in Devon

What ajrm said about VanBitz. Their Strikeback or Growler alarms are brilliant, and are not fudged models which were really designed for cars. They have been specifically designed for the large internal areas of a motorhome.

As for the general question of security, the van is no more secure than a plastic window held closed by very flimsy plastic clips. A determined thief will get in easily enough, so the best deterrent is probably an alarm, with stickers to show it is fitted.

If you opt for what VanBitz call "The Devil's Wail" you get two additional sirens inside the van - switchable so you can deactivate them while the alarm is in "bedtime" mode. They are LOUD!!!! Without sticking your fingers in your ears it is physically painful to be in there when they go off.

Nothing will stop a really determined thief, but if he sees that a Strikeback or Growler is fitted he is far more likely to try the van next door - unkind as that may sound! If you have either alarm set while you sleep, there is absolutely no chance of a thief getting in without waking you - and everyone within a ten mile radius. (I exaggerate only slightly! )

Dave

Gromit wrote:
Nothing will stop a really determined thief, but if he sees that a Strikeback or Growler is fitted he is far more likely to try the van next door -
Dave

I doubt whether any thief knows what a Strikeback or Growler really is (unless he is a motorhomer himself), surely any sticker showing that an alarm is fitted would put any thief off breaking in.

Paulmold wrote:I doubt whether any thief knows what a Strikeback or Growler really is (unless he is a motorhomer himself), surely any sticker showing that an alarm is fitted would put any thief off breaking in.

Hi Paul

The stickers don't include either of those names. They just announce that "This motorhome is fully protected by . . . . . . "

I mentioned the names to help the OP if he wanted to search for more information.

Dave

Many thanks to all who have responded we have taken on board all your comments
Cheers

I considered fitting an additional external habitation door lock like a Fiamma one but in my tiny mind I reckoned it was just an advert from a distance to a would be thief that no one was in the van and could then break in through a window. I do feel it makes it obvious when the lock is across the door.
Now I have a fairly heavy dog lead attached to to van by the door and a largish dog bowl outside marked 'Bruno' (I don't have a dog but hoping it might make someone think there is one)

We have a Winchcombe and I think probably as other newer models it has the three latch system and would take a lot of prying open. Unlike plastic Windows 
So I don't feel adding additional door locking would serve any useful purpose. IMHO I hasten to add 

Lol chudders I had the very same idea! I was thinking Satan or Killer for the bowl...

Captain_Compass wrote:Lol chudders I had the very same idea! I was thinking Satan or Killer for the bowl...

Yes, I just used aname that I thought might sound as if it ws a 'substantial' dog' Smeone else I know also has a picture of an Alsation in the window but I have not gone that far.